Method of operating a display unit and a terminal supporting the same

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a display unit enhances functionality of one hand control and a terminal supports the same. The method of operating the input area, output on the display unit, includes: determining whether one-hand operation mode is set; and displaying a first input module in which a key map area is displayed to be biased to a specific direction based on a center of the display unit when the one-hand operation mode is set.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), priority to andthe benefit of the earlier filing date of a Korean patent applicationfiled on May 15, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office andassigned Serial No. 10-2012-0051323, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an operation of an input area, and moreparticularly, to a method of operating a display so that an input areaoutput on a touch screen is suitably arranged at a point which a usermay easily touch, and a terminal supporting the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Since an electronic terminal supports a specific user function and thesize thereof is small so that the user may carry the electronicterminal, the electronic terminal is highlighted in many industrial andliving fields. Further, in the prior art, a portable terminal integrallysupporting various user functions has been introduced. Such a portableterminal provides a screen corresponding to a user function through adisplay unit while supporting the user function. Accordingly, the useruses a specific user function to use and enjoy contents items through ascreen according to an operation of a corresponding function.

Meanwhile, to increase the size of a display unit, a technique of a fulltouch screen form using an entire surface of a terminal has beenspotlighted in the prior art. The touch panel technique includes acapacitive type detecting change of capacitance on the screen to detecta touch thereto, and a resistive type detecting the variation inresistance according to a pressure variation on the screen during atouch to detect the touch thereto.

As the size of a display unit is increased, it is difficult to generatea signal using an input area output on the display unit. For example, anarea of a display unit provided in an adopted state of a large screenmakes it difficult to control an input area while gripping the terminalby a hand. In particular, since the input area receives allocation of anarea of the display unit including a location which the user has adifficulty in gripping and is displayed, there is a need to move a handor to use two hands in order to use the input area by the user. Themotion of the hand in a state that the user grips the terminal by onehand lowers usability of the terminal for the user. If a case of usingone hand is more difficult than a case of using two hands upon using aportable terminal, the use of the two hands lowers the usability of theterminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, andprovides a method of operating a display unit so that functionality ofone hand control can be maximized and a terminal supporting the same.

The present invention further provides a method of operating a displayunit so that various input areas supporting generation of an inputsignal of the terminal can be provided as an area which can becontrolled by one hand.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method ofoperating a display unit, includes: determining whether one-handoperation mode is set; and displaying a first input module in which akey map area is displayed to be biased to a specific direction based ona center of the display unit when the one-hand operation mode is set.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a terminalfor supporting an operation of an input area output on a display unit,includes: the display unit displaying a key map area including at leastone key; and a controller determining whether one-hand operation mode isset, and controlling such that a first input module in which a key maparea is biased to a specific direction based on a center of the displayunit is displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bemore apparent from the following detailed description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration ofa terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating a range which may be touched bya thumb finger of a user;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controllerof the terminal according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention in more detail;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an input areaor input module output on a display region according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen interface forsetting one-hand operation mode according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an one-hand operation mode of a 3*4keypad according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen interface regarding a dialeroperation during the one-hand operation mode according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating supporting a calculator function duringthe one-hand operation mode according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen interface associated with anoperation of a QWERTY key map during the one-hand operation modeaccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen interface associated with anoperation of a control key map during the one-hand operation modeaccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of setting a range forsupporting the one-hand operation mode according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeparts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structuresincorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matterof the present invention.

Some constituent elements shown in the drawings may be exaggerated,omitted or schematically drawn for the purpose of convenience orclarity. In addition, the size of elements does not utterly reflect anactual size. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to arelative size and interval shown in the accompanying drawings. Thepresent invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments setforth herein. In addition, terms described herein, which are definedwith reference to the functions of the present invention, may beimplemented differently depending on a user or operator's intention andpractice. Therefore, the terms should be understood on the basis of thedisclosure throughout the specification. The principles and features ofthis invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, although the drawings represent exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures may be exaggerated or omitted in order to more clearlyillustrate and explain the present invention.

Among the terms set forth herein, a terminal refers to any kind ofdevice capable of processing data which is transmitted or received to orfrom any external entity. The terminal may display icons or menus on ascreen to which stored data and various executable functions areassigned or mapped. The terminal may include a computer, a notebook, atablet PC, a mobile device, and the like.

Among the terms set forth herein, a screen refers to a display or otheroutput devices which visually display information to the user, and whichoptionally are capable of receiving and electronically processingtactile inputs from a user using a stylo, a finger of the user, or othertechniques for conveying a user selection from the user to the outputdevices.

Among the terms set forth herein, an icon refers to a graphical elementsuch as a figure or a symbol displayed on the screen of the device suchthat a user can easily select a desired function or data. In particular,each icon has a mapping relation with any function being executable inthe device or with any data stored in the device and is used forprocessing functions or selecting data in the device. When a userselects one of the displayed icons, the device identifies a particularfunction or data associated with the selected icon. Then the deviceexecutes the identified function or displays the identified data.

Among the terms set forth herein, data refers to any kind of informationprocessed by the device, including text and/or images received from anyexternal entities, messages transmitted or received, and informationcreated when a specific function is executed by the device.

Among the terms set forth herein, input module refers to an area,region, map, or portion of a screen displayed by a display device orunit.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration ofa terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the terminal 100 of the present invention mayinclude a communication unit 110, an input unit 120, an audio processor130, a display unit 140, a memory 150, and a controller 160. Theterminal 100 supports landscape mode conversion and portrait modeconversion for displaying screens in a landscape format and in aportrait format, respectively, and for converting from the portraitformat to the landscape format and for converting from the landscapeformat to the portrait format, respectively, and may further includevarious sensors, for example, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, ageomagnetic sensor, and a switch for detecting the landscape modeconversion and portrait mode conversion.

As described herein, the terminal 100 may be oriented generallyvertically or generally horizontally to be in portrait mode andlandscape mode, respectively. In the description herein, examples aredescribed of the terminal 100 changing from portrait mode to landscapemode, with display features adapted and changed accordingly, but it isto be understood that the terminal 100 may be in landscape mode and bechanged to portrait mode, with display features adapted and changedaccordingly, and that any change to either portrait or landscape mode isreversible.

The terminal 100 having the example construction or implementationdescribed above supports operations and functionality such that variousinput modules 151 stored in the memory 150 are output on the displayunit 140 according to preset schedule information or a user request. Inthis case, at least one of the input modules 151 is configured in theform of a touch map, that is, a region of a screen of the display unit140, and may be output on a defined specific location of the screen ofthe display unit 140 according to a user setting. As described herein,outputting or displaying on the display unit 140 includes outputtinginformation, data, and/or messages on at least one screen or window ofthe display unit 140. In particular, when gripping the terminal 100 by ahand in a specific direction, the input module 151 may be output on anoptimized location of the display unit 140. Accordingly, the user mayeasily generate various input signals using an input module 151 outputon a specific location of the display unit 140.

Meanwhile, a location optimized at a hand in a specific direction of theinput module 151 output on the display unit 140 may be determined byvarious experiments. In more detail, the present invention hasdetermined, from such experiments, that an area capable of operating acorresponding input module 151, in a state such that the input module151 is output on the display unit 140, may be regarded as a length of athumb finger of each user. For example, when a specific user grips theterminal 100 by a right hand, the user may operate the terminal bytouching a specific location of an input module 151 output on thedisplay unit 140 using a thumb finger in a state such that the usergrips a side and a rear side of the terminal 100 by four fingers exceptfor the thumb finger. In this case, the length of the thumb fingerdetermines a selection range which allows a user to freely selectspecific locations of an input module 151 output on the display unit140. Accordingly, the terminal 100 of the present invention may freelyselect various locations of an input module 151 in a state such that theuser grips the terminal 100 by one hand by adjusting a location of theinput module 151 according to the length of the thumb finger. Forexample, a length of a thumb finger of 95% of American women is about5.58 cm. Accordingly, upon considering flexibility of a joint connectinga thumb finger, a range which can be touched by one hand may include,for example, the range from 5 cm. to 6 cm. Accordingly, when theterminal 100 has a display unit of 5 cm. to 6 cm. or greater, the usercannot handle a total display unit by one hand, and accordingly it isnecessary to arrange a suitable input module.

In the case of the present invention, the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention is designed to arrange an input module 151 within arange which can be touched by one hand so that the user may freely andeasily generate various input signals necessary to control the terminal100 using the input module 151. In more detail, upon operating theterminal 100 using one hand, the terminal 100 has an operation range ofa thumb finger as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, upon gripping theterminal 100 by a right hand, the user may have a touchable operationrange represented by the quadrant of a circle, with squigglesrepresenting touches and finger movements within the quadrant, as shownin FIG. 2. Upon gripping the terminal 100 by a left hand, the user mayhave a touchable operation range represented by the quadrant of acircle, with squiggles representing touches and finger movements withinthe quadrant, as shown in FIG. 3. The terminal 100 may output the inputmodule 151 within the foregoing touchable operation range so that theuser may easily generate an input signal without changing to grippingthe terminal 100 by two hands or excessive change to a form for onehand.

Meanwhile, referring back to FIG. 1, the communication unit 110 supportsa communication function of the terminal 100. The communication unit 110may be included when the terminal 100 is manufactured, or may be addedafter manufacture, in any known form or implementation for supportingthe communication function. Accordingly, when the terminal 100 accordingto the present invention does not support the communication function,the communication unit 110 may be omitted from a configuration of theterminal 100. In addition, the communication unit 110 may be provided inthe form of a mobile communication module, known in the art, to supporta communication function, and in particular, a mobile communicationfunction of the terminal 100. The communication unit 110 forms acommunication channel with a communication system or network, such as amobile communication system, to support signal transception forexecuting a mobile communication function of the terminal 100. Forexample, the communication unit 110 may form at least one of a voiceservice channel, an image service channel, and a data service channelwith the mobile communication system, and support transception of aspecific signal according to a corresponding service channel.

The communication unit 110 may be activated according to a user request.In this case, various key maps and control maps for controlling thecommunication unit 110 may be output on the display unit 140. Inparticular, the communication unit 110 of the present invention maysupport various input modules according to control by the controller 160for input of a phone number of another terminal in order to support thecommunication function. For example, the terminal 100 outputs an inputmodule 151 configured by key maps for inputting numbers in the formbiased to a hand of a specific direction, such as left or right for thecorresponding hand, according to an operation of the communication unit110. Here, biased information may signify a form where at least apredetermined ratio of an input module 151 may be disposed within atouchable range according to the length of a thumb finger among hands ofa corresponding direction. According to the operation of thecommunication unit 110, the terminal 100 may output an item selectablelist area, also referred to as a list region, configured by phone bookinformation as the input module 151. In this case, the input moduleconfigured by the list region may be resized to a size within a rangedetermined by a thumb finger in a direction of a hand gripping theterminal 100 as described above and the resized input module 151 may beprovided. If a phone book information call event for operating thecommunication unit 110 is generated in a state such that one-handoperation mode of the present invention is set, the terminal 100 resizesthe size of a phone book list screen set to be output on entire regionsof the display unit 140, and may output the resized phone book listscreen on a side of the display unit 140. In this case, the resizedratio may be defined suited to a location and a size according to apreset hand operation mode.

The input unit 120 generates various input signals necessary to operatethe terminal 100. The input unit 120 may be configured to includevarious input devices and mechanisms known in the art, such as akeyboard, a keypad, and a key button according to compatibility of theterminal 100. When the display unit 140 includes a touch screen, theinput unit 120 may be configured in the form of a touch map output onthe touch screen. In particular, the input unit 120 of the presentinvention may be configured in various forms according to supportingvarious input modules. For example, the input unit 120 may be configuredby the form of an input module 151 including at least one of various keymaps such as a 3*4 key map, a 5*4 key map, a QWERTY key map, and aDvorak key map. The input unit 120 may be configured in the form of aninput module 151 including at least one of various control key maps suchas a control key map for playing music, a control key map for playing amoving image, and a control key map for controlling a broadcastreceiving function. The various key maps may have a size in a form forsupporting one hand operation in a specific direction, an arrangedstructure of respective keys, and the size and an arranged structure ina form for supporting an operation except for the one hand mode. Theforegoing key maps may be output on the display unit 140 as a specificsize and an arranged structure according to the presence of a setting ofthe one-hand operation mode. The foregoing key maps may have a size forone-hand operation mode and an arranged structure of respective keys forsupporting a left hand grip, and a size of one-hand operation mode andan arranged structure of respective keys for supporting a right handgrip.

The audio processor 130 may output various audio data set in anoperation procedure of the terminal 100, audio data according toplayback of an audio file stored in the memory 150, and audio datareceived from sources external to the terminal 100. The audio processor130 may support an audio data collecting function. To this end, theaudio processor 130 may include a speaker SPK and a microphone MIC. Inparticular, the audio processor 130 may output a sound effect or a guidesound according an operation of a corresponding input module 151according to the present invention. For example, when a specific userfunction, to which a specific input module 151 is applied, is activatedin a state such that the one-hand operation mode is set, the audioprocessor 130 may output a guide sound guiding a corresponding inputmodule 151 depends on the one-hand operation mode, and a guide soundguiding the corresponding input module is an input module 151corresponding to a hand in a specific direction. When an input signalfor changing a direction is generated, that is, when an input signal forchanging a mode from a left handed operation mode to a right handedoperation mode, the audio processor 130 may output a sound effectaccording to generation of a corresponding input signal and a soundeffect according to the change in the input module 151. When a specifickey included in the input module 151 is selected according to generationof an event for controlling each input module 151, the audio processor130 may output a sound effect according to key selection. Meanwhile, theoutput of the sound effect and the guide sound may be omitted accordingto a user setting or the intention of a designer or manufacturer of theterminal 100.

The display unit 140 provides various screen interfaces necessary tooperate the terminal 100. For example, the display unit 140 supports anidle screen and a menu screen necessary to operate the terminal 100. Thedisplay unit 140 of the present invention may include a touch panel 143and a display panel 141. The touch panel 143 may be the touch screenwhich may include or complement the input unit 120, as described herein,may have a size of a full screen of the display panel 141 or larger, andmay be operated in a form of a full touch screen based on the displaypanel 141. The foregoing display unit 140 may provide a screen forsetting a one-hand operation mode, a tutorial screen for training theuser to use the one-hand operation mode, a screen output at an optimizedlocation at a hand in a specific direction from various input modules151 according to an operation of a signal, a screen in which a locationof the input module 151 is changed according to input control, and ascreen in which a location of the input module 151 is changed accordingto a change in the landscape mode or the portrait mode. The respectivescreens will be described in more detail with reference to the followingdrawings.

The memory 150 may store various basic operating systems necessary tooperate the terminal 100, data, settings, or an application, and analgorithm or method corresponding to various user functions. Inparticular, the memory 150 may include various input modules 151supporting an operation of an input area output on the display unit 140of the present invention, and an input support program 153 supportingoutput functions and an operation of the input module 151.

Each of the at least one input modules 151 may be configured by variouskey maps which may be supported by the terminal 100. For example, theinput module 151 may include key maps for inputting numbers, key mapsfor inputting characters, and control key maps for controllingfunctions. The key map for inputting numbers may include a key map suchas a key map for inputting a phone number, a calculator key map for amathematical or engineering calculation, and a key map for inputtingdates for supporting various functions associated with the numbers, suchas a calendar function. The key maps for inputting characters mayinclude a key map for inputting English characters, a key map forinputting Korean characters, a key map for inputting characterscorresponding to various national languages such as the Chinese andJapanese languages, and a key map for inputting special characters. Thecontrol key maps for controlling functions may include various controlkey maps such as a control key map for controlling playback of music, acontrol key map for controlling playback of a moving image, and acontrol key map for controlling a broadcast receiving function. Theinput module 151 may include a basic form in which the foregoing keymaps are output on the display unit 140 to have a defined size andlocation, and at least one of a left hand mode support form and a rightmode support form for supporting one-hand operation mode of the presentinvention. The input module 151 of the basic form may have an array formof keys symmetrical to each other based on the center of the displayunit 140, or an array form of at least one key which is arrayed at acentral region of the display unit 140.

Meanwhile, the input module 151 may include only key maps correspondingto the basic form, such as the screen 701 shown in FIG. 7. Then, if anactivation request of a specific user function is generated, thecontroller 160 may confirm classification setting information accordingto operation of a one hand mode, a left hand mode, or a right hand mode,resize at least one of a size, a location, and a form of an input module151 of the basic form, or vary the arrangement of keys to generate andstore at least one of a right hand input module and a left hand inputmodule. When the right hand input mode and the left hand input mode isrequested, the controller 160 may generate and output the right handinput module and the left hand input module, respectively, based on aninput module 151 of a basic form when a corresponding request isgenerated.

The input support program 153 may include various routines necessary tosupport the one-hand operation mode of the present invention. Forexample, the input support program 153 may include a routine ofsupporting a one-hand operation mode setting, a routine of calling orrequesting display of an input module 151 corresponding to a userfunction when a specific user function to which the one-hand operationmode is set is activated, and a routine of outputting the called orrequested input module 151 on the display unit 140 to be biased to bedisplayed in a defined predetermined direction, such as left or right.The input support program 153 may include a routine supportingoperations such that an output direction of the input module 151 ischanged, a routine of adjusting an arranged structure or the size ofkeys when an output direction of the input module 151 is changed, and aroutine processing a specific input signal according to an eventgenerated from a corresponding input module 151. Further, the inputsupport program 153 may include a routine for collecting one handoperation within a possible range of a user to adjust the size of theinput module 151 and an array of keys.

The controller 160 controls the transfer and processing of signals andsupply and distribution of power required to operate an input area orinput module 151 output on the display unit 140 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention. For example, thecontroller 160 may adjust at least one of a form and a location of theinput module 151 according to a user request or a preset schedule afteroutput of the input area, and control a user function according to asignal input through the input module 151. The controller 160 mayinclude example constituent elements as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller160 of the terminal 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 160 of the present invention mayinclude an event collector 161, an input module operator 163, and afunction executor 165.

The event collector 161 collects various events generated from theterminal 100, such as touch events on the touch screen and/or touchpanel 143, and transfers a specific event among the collected events tothe input module operator 163. In more detail, when an event forcalling, requesting, or activating a specific user function requiringoutput of the input area or input module 151 is generated on a displayregion, the event collector 161 may transfer preset informationindicating the presence of a setting for the one-hand operation mode tothe input module operator 163. As described above, when receiving aninput signal for activating a specific user function requiring theoutput of the input module 151, the event collector 161 generates inputmodule selection information corresponding to the received input signal.The event collector 161 may confirm stored preset information in orderto confirm a setting state of one-hand operation mode. To this end, theterminal 100 may store preset information indicating the presence of asetting for the one-hand operation mode with respect to a specific userfunction according to a user setting.

The input module operator 163 receives input module selectioninformation and preset one-hand operation mode information, and supportsoutput of a specific input module 151 based on correspondinginformation. To this end, the input module operator 163 may perform aprocedure of confirming various input modules 151 stored in the memory150 based on the input module selection information. The input moduleoperator 163 confirms the preset one-hand operation mode information.When the one-hand operation mode is set, the input module operator 163may call or request an input module 151 for supporting the one-handoperation mode, and output the called or requested input module 151 on aprevious defined location of the display unit 140. The input moduleoperator 163 may resize an input module 151 provided in an existing formaccording to a setting of the one-hand operation mode, and output theresized input module 151 on the display unit 140.

The input module operator 163 may output a changed item supporting thechange in a location of the input module 151. If an input signal forselecting a corresponding change item is generated, the input moduleoperator 163 may convert a form of the output or displayed input module151 from a left mode to a right mode or from the right mode to the leftmode.

In addition, the input module operator 163 may detect rotation of theterminal 100 using various sensors, for example, an acceleration sensor,a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and a switch, and may change atleast one of a location and a form of the input module 151 outputaccording to the rotation of the terminal 100. For example, when arotation state of the terminal is converted from a portrait mode to alandscape mode, the input module operator 163 may resize the inputmodule 151 output in a hand mode in a specific direction suited to aregion of the display unit 140 according to corresponding rotationchange or adjust locations of respective keys. In this case, the inputmodule 151 stored in the memory 150 includes forms corresponding to thelandscape mode and the portrait mode, respectively, and the input moduleoperator 163 may control operations such that the input module 151corresponding to a one-hand mode in a specific direction is outputaccording to the conversion of the landscape mode and the portrait mode.

If a specific input signal is generated from an input module 151 outputby the input module operator 163, the function executor 165 controlsoperations such that a function according to the corresponding inputsignal is executed. For example, if a dialing input signal is generatedtogether with input of a specific phone number after the input module151 having a phone number input and dialing function is output on thedisplay unit 140, the function executor 165 may process and transfer asignal for call connection with another terminal corresponding to thephone number. In this case, the function executor 165 may outputadditional information associated with an operation of a correspondinginput module 151 on a predetermined area of the display unit 140 towhich the input module 151 is output. In particular, the functionexecutor 165 may output additional information on a blank area on whichkeys included in the input module 151 are not displayed.

If a user function for creating a message through input of characters ornumbers and a corresponding input module 151 is output, the functionexecutor 165 outputs signals input by the input module 151 on an outputarea of the display unit 140. The function executor 165 may controloperations such that a corresponding message is transmitted to anotherterminal according to an additional input signal. If a specific inputsignal is generated according to a corresponding control key map in astate such that the input module 151 corresponding to the control keymap is output on a side of a screen of the display unit 140, thefunction executor 165 may control a user function according to thecorresponding input signal. For example, a control key map for selectinga channel may be output on an area of the display unit 140 as the inputmodule 151 according to execution of a broadcast receiving function. Ifa specific input signal is generated from the input module 151 in thisstate, the function executor 165 may execute user functions includingchanging a broadcasting channel, terminating a broadcast receivingfunction, or recording broadcasting according to a corresponding inputsignal.

As described above, the terminal 100 of the present invention mayprovide a form of the input module 151 on the display unit 140 in abiased form in a predetermined direction in order to support anoperation of one hand of the user in a procedure of outputting ordisplaying various input modules 151 according to the user function.Accordingly, the user may control various inputs using one hand withoutperforming a separate operation during a procedure of operating theinput module 151. The terminal 100 provides a change item capable ofdirectly calling or requesting an input module 151 according to acorresponding environment in response to a grip change of a left hand, aright hand, or both hands during a procedure of operating the terminal100 to easily operate the terminal 100 without trouble or difficultysuch as for menu selection for selecting the input module 151.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an input areaor input module 151 output on a display region according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a controller 160 of the terminal 100 may supplypower to support a specific function of the terminal 100, for example,at least one function or state such as an idle screen function, a sleepstate support function, and a specific terminal function operation statein step 501. To this end, the controller 160 may control operations suchthat power from a battery or an adapter is conveyed to a specificelement of the terminal 100.

Meanwhile, the controller 160 may determine whether an input signal foractivating a user function requiring provision of an input module 151 isgenerated according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventionin step 503. When the input signal for activating a user functionrequiring provision of an input module 151 is not generated in step 503,the controller 160 may control and process signals for executing acorresponding user function in step 505. For example, when an inputsignal for executing a function without requiring a specific key mapsuch as a menu screen search function is generated, the controller 160may control execution of a function according to a corresponding inputsignal.

However, in step 503, when the input signal for activating a userfunction requiring provision of an input module 151 is generated, thecontroller 160 may determine whether preset information for settingone-hand operation mode is generated in step 507. When the one-handoperation mode is not set in step 507, the controller 160 may output aninput module corresponding to a basic form on the display unit 140 instep 511 and proceed to step 521. The basic form may have apredetermined size and area, and have a structure and format which ispositioned at the center of the screen on the display unit 140, such asscreen 701 in FIG. 7. The basic form may be configured by a key map in apreviously defined form in order to support a specific user functionregardless of the presence of one hand operation by a left hand or aright hand.

Referring back to step 507, when the one-hand operation mode is set atstep 507, the controller 160 may output an input module 151corresponding to a hand in a specific direction on the display unit 140in step 509. For example, the controller 160 may output an input module151 where a key map is biased to a right side of the screen of thedisplay unit 140, so that one-hand operation by the right hand ispossible. The controller 160 may also control operations such that aninput module 151 supporting a left handed operation is output. The inputmodule 151 supporting a right handed operation or a left handedoperation may be an input module 151 for supporting a hand in adirection which is defined according to preset default information,which is directed as set by the user, or which is finally selected andoperated due to an operation of a corresponding user function. Thecontroller 160 may change a form of an output or displayed input module151 according to a current display format or form of arrangement ofdisplayed elements on a screen of the display unit 140 of the terminal100, that is, the arrangement of a landscape mode or a portrait mode. Tothis end, the terminal 100 may store an input module 151 differentlycreated according to an arranged state of the landscape mode or theportrait mode, or may adjust or output an input module 151 of a basicform suited to the landscape mode or the portrait mode. The terminal 100may have previously stored information regarding a location of the inputmodule 151 and arranged states of the keys for operating one-hand modeaccording to an arranged state of the landscape mode or the portraitmode in order to adjust the input module 151 of a basic form, and mayoutput an input module 151 of a specific arranged state for one-handoperation based on the stored information.

After step 509, the controller 160 may determine whether a directionchange signal for changing a direction of a left hand or a right hand isgenerated in step 513. To this end, the user may generate an inputsignal selecting a direction change menu item allocated to change thedirection of the screen of the display unit 140 for the left hand or theright hand. If a direction change is detected in step 513, thecontroller 160 generates the input signal for changing the direction sothat at least one of a direction and a form of the input module 151 ischanged in step 515, and the method proceeds to step 517. For example,when the input signal for changing the direction is generated in a statethat an input module 151 for supporting a left handed operation isoutput, the controller 160 may control operations such that an inputmodule 151 for supporting a right handed operation is output. In thiscase, the controller 160 may select and output an input module 151 forsupporting a previously defined right handed operation from the memory150, adjust the size of a basic form, and arranged locations ofrespective keys to generate an input module 151 for supporting a righthanded operation, and output the generated input module 151 on thedisplay unit 140.

However, in step 513, if the input signal for changing the direction isnot generated, that is, when an output of a current input modulemaintains the direction or orientation at step 513, the process proceedsto step 517. The controller 160 determines whether a signal for rotatingthe terminal is generated in step 517. That is, the controller 160 maydetermine whether a sensor signal according to conversion from thelandscape mode to the portrait mode or from the portrait mode to thelandscape mode is generated. When the signal for rotating the terminal100 is generated as detected in step 517, the controller 160 may changethe input module 151 according to the rotation of the terminal in step519. That is, if a rotation sensing signal for changing arrangement in astate such that a current input mode is output in the portrait mode, thecontroller 160 may convert an environment of a display unit 140 of theterminal 100 from the portrait mode to the landscape mode, and output aninput module 151 of a user function corresponding to the landscape mode.During this procedure, the controller 160 may select and output an inputmodule 151 associated with a corresponding user function previouslystored in the memory 150, resize a basic form suited to the one-handoperation of the landscape mode or adjust a key arrangement of a keymap, or output the resized basic form or the adjusted key arrangement ofthe key map. However, in step 517, when the direction change signal forchanging a direction is not generated at step 513 or the signal forrotating the terminal 100 is not generated, the controller 160 maycontrol operations such that step 519 is skipped, and the methodproceeds to step 521.

In step 521, the controller 160 determines whether an input signal forterminating a function is generated. When the input signal forterminating a function is not generated, the controller 160 returns tostep 507 and repeats the foregoing procedures. Otherwise, the method ofFIG. 5 ends.

As describe above, the method of operating an input module 151 displayedon a display area of the present invention outputs an input module 151which can be operated by one hand, such as either a left hand or a righthand on the display unit 140 according to the presence of a setting forthe one-hand operation mode when a user function requiring an inputmodule 151 is activated. In this case, the method may output an inputmodule 151 applied to the landscape mode or the portrait mode accordingto an arranged state of the terminal 100. The method may change alocation of an input module 151 and an arranged state of at least one ofkeys according to a direction change request from a left hand to a righthand or from the right hand to the left hand. The method may change atleast one of the location and the form of the input module 151 accordingto an arrangement change from the landscape mode to the portrait mode offrom the portrait mode to the landscape mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen interface forsetting one-hand operation mode according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, if an input signal for calling or requesting a“setting” screen associated with function for setting of the terminal100 is generated from the input unit 120 or the display unit 140 by atouch function, the controller 160 may output the “setting” screen 601on a display unit 140. In particular, the display unit 140 may output ascreen interface including an item or icon 61 for setting one-handoperation mode of the present invention.

If a user generates an input signal by selecting an item 61 for one-handoperation mode setting on the screen 601, the controller 160 may outputa screen interface 603 associated with the one-hand operation modesetting on the display unit 140. In this case, a preset one-handoperation mode screen interface 603 may include items such as icons andother known display elements associated with a specific input module151. For example, such displayed items may be a dialer, a keypad, or acalculator. When a specific input module 151 is set to be operated inthe one-hand operation mode according to the one-hand operation modesetting, specific user functions using respective input modules 151 maybe collectively set in the one-hand operation mode. Meanwhile, thevarious displayed items on the screen interface 603 may be itemsassociated with a user function. That is, the various items may includeor may be associated with specific user functions such as a messagecreation function, a chatting function, an e-mail creation function, atelephone or communications call function, a calculator function, and ahousehold account book function supported by the terminal 100. The usermay select a specific input module 151 or a check box, such as thedisplayed check boxes in the screen interface 603, so that the one-handoperation mode setting with respect to a user function item may beperformed.

In addition, the one-hand operation mode setting screen interface mayprovide a “tutorial” item 63 for performing the one-hand operation modeof selecting a tutorial to be performed, as shown in the screeninterface 603. When the user selects the tutorial item 63, the displayunit 140 may output information supporting a location change of theinput module in the one-hand operation mode as illustrated in screens605 and 607 of FIG. 6, with the greyed circles representing selectedregions for activating a corresponding function, such as displaying aSAMSUNG keypad oriented with keys having a predetermined arrangement,such as keys for products displaying such a keypad commerciallyavailable from SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a one-hand operation mode of a 3*4keypad according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the one-hand operation mode is not set, theterminal 100 may output a screen including a 3*4 key map regioncorresponding to an input module of a basic form on the display unit 140as illustrated in the screen 701. For example, a screen interface outputon the screen 701 may be a message creation screen, an e-mail creationscreen, and a chatting screen. The input module 710 of a basic form maybe output in a predetermined area of the display unit 140 with apreviously defined size and form. For example, the input module 710 of abasic form may have a symmetrical structure based on a vertical centerline of the display unit 140. That is, the input module 710 having thebasic form is centered on the screen of the display unit 140. Inaddition, a screen interface of the screen 701 may be provided with anoutput area 720 on which a character may be input corresponding to aninput signal input according to control of a corresponding input moduleexcept for an area of the input module 710 of the basic form. The screeninterface 701 may include additional areas, for example, a function itemarea 730 on which specific function items associated with acorresponding user function are output as well as the output area 720.The function item area 730 may include a function item 731 supportingconversion to a pen function, a function item 732 for transmitting acreated message, and an item 733 providing information regarding a totalamount of a creatable message and an amount of a currently createdmessage. The screen 701 may include an information input area 740 forinputting information of another terminal which will receive the messageand a phone book call area 750 supporting a phone book or contacts forselecting the other terminal. The user may create and transmit themessage generated in the output area 720 based on the screen interface701.

Meanwhile, when the user has set the one-hand operation mode, theterminal 100 may output an input module 151 for supporting the one-handoperation mode in a specific direction on the display unit 140 asillustrated in a screen 703. For example, the terminal 100 may output aright hand input module 760 for supporting a right hand based one-handoperation mode. The right hand input module 760 may include a right handkey map area 761, a first change item area 762, and a first blank area763. The right hand input module 760 provided on the screen 703 may beconfigured by a virtual key map provided in a state such that theterminal 100 is arranged in the portrait mode.

The right hand key map area 761 may have the same arrangement of keys asthat of the input module 710 of a basic form shown in the screen 701,while the respective keys of the screen 703 may be biased toward a rightperiphery of the screen 703. Accordingly, the right hand key map area761 may be biased to a right side while maintaining a rectangular shape.The sizes of a location and an area to which the right hand key map area761 is output, and an arranged location of keys may be adjusted within aone-hand operable distance of the user. To this end, the terminal 100may provide the right hand key map area 761 based on a length of a thumbfinger of the user provided as a default, and provide the right hand keymap area 761 based on the length of the thumb finger input by the user.The display of the right hand key map area 761 based on the length ofthe thumb finger of the user will be described with reference tofollowing drawings.

As shown in the screen 703 in FIG. 7, the first change item area 762 maybe arranged at a left peripheral region of the right hand key map area761. Accordingly, when the user grips the terminal 100 by a left hand,the first change item area 762 may be easily selected, with the greyedcircle representing selecting and activating the first change item area762. In the case of selecting the first change item area 762, theterminal 100 may provide a screen to which the left hand input module770 including the left hand key map area 771 is outputted as illustratedin a screen 705.

Referring to screen 703, the first blank area 763 is provided at a rightand bottom periphery of the right hand key map area 761 so that the usermay easily select respective keys included in the right hand key maparea 761 by the right hand. When the user tries to grip the terminal 100by the right hand, the user selects keys of the right hand key map area761 using a thumb finger. In this case, an area neighboring a rightperiphery according to a bent angle of the thumb finger may be an areadifficult to select by the thumb finger. Since the thumb finger isspaced apart from a bottom end of the terminal 100 by a predetermineddistance in a state such that a palm grips a bottom of the terminal 100,that is, a bottom portion relative to the vertical direction of thescreens 701-711 on the display unit 140, the thumb finger may not selectsuch a bottom part of the terminal 100. Accordingly, the first blankarea 763 is arranged at an area corresponding to an area which the thumbfinger may not select so that the right hand key map area 761 of theterminal 100 may be easily selected by the thumb finger. The first blankarea 763 may be initially provided in a default location, and may beadjusted in size and shape according to a specific length of the thumbfinger. The terminal 100 according to the present invention mayinitially provide the first blank area 763 suited to an average lengthof the thumb finger, and may adjust the size and location of the firstblank area 763 according to measurement and input of the length of thethumb finger of the user. Meanwhile, the screen interface 703 may besupported so that an output area 720, a function item area 730, aninformation input area 740, and a phone book call area 750 maintaintheir orientations, sizes, and/or appearances from a previous screenstate.

As described above, when the user selects the first change item area 762in a state in which the screen 703 is displayed, the terminal 100 mayoutput a screen interface as illustrated in the screen 705. The screeninterface 705 may have substantially the same screen structure as thatof the screen interface 703, but instead the input module area is outputas a left hand input module 770 of a form specified at the left hand. Asshown in the screen interface 705 of FIG. 7, the left input module 770may include a left hand key map area 771, a second change item area 772,and a second blank area 773.

The left hand key map 771 has a size similar to that of the right handkey map area 761 of the screen 703, but a display location of a key mapin the left hand key map area 771 may be different from that in theright hand key map area 761. Further, arranged locations and directionsof keys displayed on the left hand key map area 771 may be differentfrom those on the right hand key map area 761 as shown. The left key maparea 771 may have the same arranged location of keys as those displayedon the right hand key map area 761. The second change item area 772 isan area for activating conversion back to the screen 703 to which theright hand input module 760 is output. The second blank area 773 may bean area corresponding to an area which the left thumb cannot select sothe left hand key map area 771 may be easily selected by a left hand ofthe user.

If the user selects keys of the left hand key map area 771 to inputcharacters in a state shown in the screen interface 705, the terminal100 may output characters of keys according to selection on an outputarea 720. In this case, the function item area 730 may maintain theconfiguration of similar or identical icons or display elements on thescreen interface 705 as in screens 701 and 703. Meanwhile, whencharacter input occurs, an information input area 740 and a phone bookcall area 750, to which information regarding another terminal is input,may be removed from being displayed on the screens 701-705 of thedisplay unit 140, as shown in screen 707, for example, by apredetermined input command. When an input signal for completing messagecreation is generated or the character input is not generated for apreset time, the information input area 740 and the phone book call area750 may be again output as in the screen interface 705. The controller160 may automatically control resizing of the output area 720 and thefunction item area 730 for removal and for output on screens of theinformation input area 740 and the phone book call area 750.

Meanwhile, referring to screen 705, when character input by the lefthand key map area 771 occurs, the controller 160 may change the secondchange item area 772 to an additional information output area 774, asshown in the screen 707. The additional information output area 774 maydisplay previously stored specific information associated with thecharacter input. For example, a word output according to a wordrecommendation associated with characters input by the user, such as byauto-correct functions known in the art, may be performed on theadditional information output area 774, as shown in the screen 707.

Referring back to the screen 703, when an arranged state of the terminal100 is in the state of the screen 703, for example, and when rotationwhere the terminal 100 is converted from the portrait mode to thelandscape mode is achieved, the terminal 100 may output a screeninterface for supporting the landscape mode on the display unit 140 asillustrated in a screen 709. A right input module 780 based on thelandscape mode is output to the screen interface in screen 709 forsupporting the landscape mode, and an output area 721 based on thelandscape mode, a function item area 739, an information input area 741,and a phone book call area 751 may be provided on the screen interfaceof screen 709. The right hand input module 780 based on the landscapemode may include a right hand key map area 781 based on the landscapemode, a first blank area 783 based on the landscape mode, and a firstchange item area 782 based on the landscape mode. The right hand key maparea 781 based on the landscape mode may have an arrangement of the samekeys as those of the right hand key map area 761 of screen 703, butwhich have been adjusted size and location. The right hand key map area781 based on the landscape mode may be biased to a right periphery sothat that the user may select keys by a right hand in a state ofgripping the terminal 100. The first change item area 782 based on thelandscape mode may have an area larger than the corresponding changeitem areas 762, 772 of the portrait mode. The first blank area 783 basedon the landscape mode may be formed at a right periphery and a bottomperiphery of the right hand key map area 781 based on the landscapemode, with each of the right periphery and the bottom periphery having apredetermined width.

Meanwhile, when the first change item area 782 based on the landscapemode is selected, a left input module 790 based on the landscape modemay be output on the display unit 140 as illustrated in a screen 711. Aleft hand key map area 791 may be biased to a left side of the leftinput module 790 based on the landscape mode. In this case, the lefthand key map area 791 has a form similar to that of the right hand keymap area 781 based on the landscape mode in screen 709. A second changeitem area 792 based on a landscape mode may be output to a right side ofthe left hand key map area 791 based on the landscape mode. A secondblank area 793 based on the landscape mode may be formed at a leftperiphery and a bottom periphery of the left hand key map area 791 basedon the landscape mode, with each of the left periphery and the bottomperiphery having a predetermined width. When the second change item area792 based on the second landscape mode is selected, the terminal 100 mayreturn to the screen 709.

Referring back to screen 709, when the user selects at least one of thekeys of the right hand key map area 781 on the screen 709 based on thelandscape mode to perform character input in a state of the screeninterface 709, the controller 160 may output a corresponding characterto the output area 721 as illustrated in a screen 713 in FIG. 7. Thefirst change item area 782 based on the landscape mode in the right handinput module based on the landscape mode may be converted into anadditional information output area 784 based on the landscape mode inthe screen 713. The additional information output area 784 based on thelandscape mode may be an area in which recommended words associated withan input character are displayed, providing an auto-correct functionknown in the art, and a plurality of additional information output areasmay be output. The additional information output area function isequally applicable to the left hand input module 790 based on thelandscape mode shown in screen 711.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen interface regarding a dialeroperation during the one-hand operation mode according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, if an input signal for activating a user functionfor displaying a dialer for calling another terminal is generated in aset state of the one-hand operation mode, the terminal 100 of thepresent invention may output a right hand input module 810 which is aninput module biased to a right side of a key map area associated with adialer, which is biased based on a central line of a screen 801displayed on the display unit 140. The terminal 100 may output a lefthand input module 840 in which an input module is biased to a left sidebased on the central line of a screen 803 displayed on the display unit140 according to an user setting or an intention of a designer ormanufacturer of the terminal 100. When the one-hand operation mode isnot set, the terminal 100 may have a structure in which a dialerincluding a plurality of keys is symmetrical based on the center of thecurrently displayed screen of the display unit 140, and may output acorresponding screen.

A dialer support user function provided from the screen interface 801may be a call function. As shown in the screen 801, the call functionsupport screen may include a right hand input module 810, an output area820, and a menu area 830. The output area 820 may be an area to whichnumbers selected from the right hand key map area 811 included in theright hand input module 810 are output. The menu area 830 may be an areato which items associated with the call function are output. The righthand input module 810 may include the right hand map area 811 biased toa right side based on a vertical center line of the display unit 140, afirst change item area 812 arranged at a left side of the right hand keymap area 811, and a first blank area 813 arranged at a right peripheryand a bottom periphery of the right key map area 811.

When the user generates an input signal selecting a first change itemarea 812, the terminal 100 may provide a screen interface including aleft hand input module as illustrated in the screen 803. The left inputmodule 840 may include a left hand key map area 841 biased to a leftside, a second change item area 842 arranged at a right side of the leftkey map area 841, and a second blank area 843 formed at a rightperiphery and a bottom periphery of the left key map area 841, with eachof the right periphery and the bottom periphery having a predeterminedwidth.

Meanwhile, when the user rotates the terminal 100 in the landscape modein a state such that the screen 803 is displayed, the terminal 100 maydisplay a screen to which a left hand input module 850 based on thelandscape mode is output as illustrated in a screen 805 of FIG. 8. Theleft hand input module 850 based on the landscape mode, an output area821 based on the landscape mode, and a menu area 831 based on thelandscape mode may be provided on the screen interface 805.

The left hand input module 850 based on the landscape mode may includethe left hand key map area 851, a blank area 853 based on the landscapemode, and a change item area 854 based on the landscape mode. The blankarea 853 is formed at a left periphery and a bottom periphery of theleft hand input module 850, with each of the left periphery and thebottom periphery having a predetermined width.

When the user input numbers to the screen 805 using specific keys of theleft hand key map area 851 based on the landscape mode, the change itemarea 854 based on the landscape mode may be converted into an additionalinformation output area 854 based on the landscape mode. The additionalinformation output area 854 based on the landscape mode may be aninformation area recommending a specific phone number associated with acorresponding number upon input of the beginning portions of the number.The specific phone number may be information previously stored in aphone book or information included in a call history. The additionalinformation output area 854 based on the landscape mode may provide atleast one related phone number.

Referring back to screen 801, when the user selects a specific key ofthe right hand key map area 811, for example, by selecting the firstchange item area 812 represented by the greyed circle, to input numbersin a state of the screen 801, the right hand input module 810 includingthe additional information output area 814 may be output as illustratedin a screen 807. The information output on the additional informationoutput region 814 may be a specific phone number stored in the phonebook or a specific phone number having a call history as illustrated inthe screen 805.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating supporting functions of a calculatorduring the one-hand operation mode according to the exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the user generates an input signal foractivating a calculator function, the terminal 100 may output a righthand input module 910 having a key map area associated with a calculatoron a side of a screen as illustrated in a screen 901 according to asetting of the one-hand operation mode. The screen interface of thescreen 901 on the display unit 140 may include a calculator relatedoutput area 920 and the right hand input module 910. The right handinput module 910 may include a right hand key map area 911 havingcalculator related keys, a first blank area 913 formed at a rightperiphery and a bottom periphery of the right key map area 911, witheach of the right periphery and the bottom periphery having apredetermined width, and a first change item area 912 arranged at a leftside of the right hand key map area 911.

Meanwhile, when the user generates an input signal selecting the firstchange item area 912, for example, by inputting the selectionrepresented by the greyed circle in the screen 901, the terminal 100 maycontrol operations such that the screen 901 is changed to a screen 903shown in FIG. 9 for substituting the right hand input module 910 withthe left hand input module 930. The left hand input module 930 mayinclude a left hand key map area 931 biased to a left side based on acentral line the screen 903 of the display unit 140, a second blank area933 formed at a left periphery and a bottom periphery of the left handkey map area 931 to have a predetermined width, and a second change itemarea 932. When the second change item area 932 is activated, theterminal 100 may return the screen 903 to the screen 901.

Meanwhile, when the terminal 100 is rotated from being in a portraitmode oriented in a vertical direction of a screen 903 to being in alandscape mode oriented in a horizontal direction, the terminal 100 mayprovide a screen interface including a left hand input module 940 basedon the landscape mode and an output area 921 based on the landscape modeas illustrated in a screen 905 in FIG. 9. The left hand input module 940based on the landscape mode may include a left hand key map area 941based on the landscape mode biased to a left side of the screen 905 in astate of the display unit 140 which is arranged in the landscape mode, ablank area 943 based on the landscape mode formed at a left peripheryand a bottom periphery of the left hand key map area 941, and a changeitem area 944 arranged at a right side of the left hand key map area 941based on the landscape mode, with each of the left periphery and thebottom periphery having a predetermined width. When the user inputs aspecific number using the left hand key map area 941 based on thelandscape mode in this state, the change item area 944 may change theadditional information output area 944 based on the landscape mode asshown in screen 905. The additional information output area 944 outputsa calculator related additional information, and previously calculatedor input data having at least one result or value may be outputted inthe additional information output area 944.

Referring back to screen 903, the user inputs numbers using a left handmap area 931 without rotating the terminal 100, and the terminal 100 mayoutput the input numerals to the output area 920 in a state ofmaintaining the portrait mode as illustrated in a screen 907 of FIG. 9.Meanwhile, the left hand input module 930 includes the left hand key maparea 931 and the second blank area 933, and the second change item area932 in screen 903 may be converted into an additional information outputarea 934 in screen 907. The additional information output area 934 mayoutput a previously input value or a result value according to apreviously performed calculation. With the screen 907 being displayedand the terminal 100 oriented vertically, rotating the terminal 100 tobe in landscape mode causes the screen 907 to be changed to the screen905, as described herein.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen interface associated with anoperation of a QWERTY key map implementing a QWERTY keyboard or keypadduring the one-hand operation mode according to the exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the user may generate an input signal forexecuting a specific user function, and the terminal 100 may call orrequest an input module associated with a QWERTY key map as illustratedin a screen 1001 in order to execute a corresponding user function. Inthis case, when the one-hand operation mode is set, the terminal 100 mayprovide a screen interface including a left hand input module 1010 asshown having a default format or according to a user setting. As shown,a screen interface 1001 may include a left hand input module 1010, amessage output area 1020, an information input area 1040, a functionitem area 1030, and a phone book call area 1050. As shown in FIG. 10,the left hand input module 1010 may include a left hand key map area1011 biased to a left side based on a central line of the screen 1001 onthe display unit 140, a first blank area 1013, and a first change itemarea 1012.

The left hand key map area 1011 includes a plurality of keysconstituting a QWERTY key map, and is biased to the left side. The sizeof respective keys on the left key map area 1011 are relatively smallerthan an input module 151 of a basic form symmetrically arranged based onthe central line of screens on the display unit 140, and the format orarrangement of the respective keys may be changed as necessary. Inparticular, the left hand key map area 1011 may be an area in whichrespective keys are arranged within a touchable range using a left thumbfinger in a state such that the user grips the terminal 100 by a lefthand. To this end, the terminal 100 outputs a left hand key map area1011 within a range created based on a length of a thumb fingerinitially defined by a designer or the manufacturer of the terminal 100.In addition, the terminal 100 may adjust a range of a left hand key maparea 1011 based on a newly defined length representing an average ortypical length of the thumb finger.

The first blank area 1013 is configured to have a predetermined widthand height at a periphery of the terminal 100, with the values of thepredetermined width and height acquired from statistics, in which thefirst blank area 1013 is not typically reached due to bending of thethumb finger when the user operates a QWERTY key map included in theleft hand key map area 1011. The first blank area 1013 may be an areawhich is impossible to touch by bending the thumb finger or is difficultto touch in a state such that the user grips the terminal 100 by a lefthand. As described above, a predetermined width and length of the blankarea 1013 may be determined by obtained statistics.

The first change item area 1012 is an area to which an item capable ofchanging an arranged form of an input module is output so that one-handoperation of a user gripping the terminal 100 by a right hand issupported upon selection thereof. When the user selects the first changeitem area 1012, the terminal 100 may output a right hand input module1060 shown in the screen 1003 of FIG. 10 and biased to the rightcompared to the left hand input module 1010 as illustrated in a screen1001.

As described above, when a first change item area 1012 is selected onthe screen 1001 or a right hand is set by default to the one-handoperation mode according to an initial user setting or a designer ormanufacturer setting, a screen 1003 may be provided and displayed on ascreen of the display unit 140. The screen 1003 may provide a screeninterface structure substantially similar to the screen 1001, and aright hand input module 1060 may be output to an area corresponding tothe left hand input module 1010 but shifted to the right.

The right hand input module 1060 may include a right hand key map area1061 biased to a right side based on a central line of the screen 1003on the display unit 140, a second blank area 1063, and a second changeitem 1062. The right hand key map area 1061 is configured by keysconstituting a QWERTY key map, has the same key format and arrangementas that of the left key map area 1011, and is biased to a right side.The second blank area 1063 may be configured at a right periphery and abottom periphery of the right hand key map area 1061, with each of theright periphery and the bottom periphery having a predetermined width.If the second change item 1062 is selected, the terminal 100 may returnfrom displaying the screen 1003 to displaying the screen 1001.

In the meantime, an input module including the QWERTY key map supportsconversion to the landscape mode or to a portrait mode according torotation of the terminal 100. In this case, in another exemplaryembodiment described above, QWERTY key maps may be transformed andprovided to be displayed suited to a landscape mode screen structure orto a portrait mode screen structure. The terminal 100 may include a lefthand input module and a right hand input module having QWERTY key mapareas biased to a left side or a right side in the landscape mode, asshown in FIG. 10.

In the foregoing description, the output area 1020, the function itemarea 1030, the information input area 1040, and the phone book call area1050 may be areas similar to the respective areas described in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen interface associated with anoperation of a control key map during the one-hand operation modeaccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, the user may request to activate a specific userfunction to which an operation of a control key map is requested. Forexample, the user may generate an input signal to request activation ofa broadcast receiving function. Then, the terminal 100 may receive abroadcast signal according to activation of the broadcast receivingfunction, decode the received broadcast signal, and output the decodedbroadcast signal on the display unit 140 as illustrated in a screen 1101of FIG. 11. In this case, a screen according to decoding the broadcastsignal may be provided and displayed as a full screen as shown accordingto a user setting or the presence of support from the terminal 100. Theterminal 100 may provide the broadcast signal screen 1101 based on thelandscape mode or the portrait mode, or the landscape mode according torotation of the terminal 100 by the user from an initial portrait mode.FIG. 11 illustrates a form and example of providing a screen based onthe landscape mode, displaying content of a default or selected channel,such as a sailboat.

Meanwhile, when the user generates an input signal for calling,requesting, or activating a control key map on a right area of thescreen, that is, when the user touches an area labeled “A”, the terminal100 may output a right hand control key map area 1110 biased to a rightside of the display unit 140 as illustrated in a screen 1103. The righthand control key map area 1110 is an area to which at least one controlkey is provided in a predetermined form, such as a numerical keypad or achannel listing menu, and may be output at a location spaced apart froma right periphery and a bottom periphery of the terminal 100 by apredetermined width. In particular, the right hand control key map area1110 may be an area located within a range by which the user may touchrespective control keys of the right hand control key map area 1110 bymoving a right thumb finger in a state that the user grips the terminal100 by a right hand. Meanwhile, if an input signal selecting a specificcontrol key, for example, a specific channel is generated on the righthand control key map area 1110, the terminal 100 may decode a broadcastsignal corresponding to a selected channel, and output a screenaccording to a decoding signal on the display unit 140 as illustrated ina screen 1105, displaying content such as a parachutist from theselected channel “7” entered on the right hand control key map area 1110of the screen 1103.

Referring back to the screen 1101, the user may instead touch an arealabeled “B” on the screen 1101, and the terminal 100 may output a lefthand control key map area 1120 biased to a left side of the display unit140 as illustrated in a screen 1107. The left hand control key map area1120 is an area to which at least one control key is provided anddisplayed in a predetermined form, and may be output at a locationspaced apart from a left periphery and a bottom periphery of theterminal 100 by a predetermined width. In particular, the left handcontrol key map area 1120 may be an area within a range by which a usermay touch respective control keys by moving a thumb finger in a statesuch that the user grips the terminal 100 by a left hand. Meanwhile, ifan input signal selecting a specific control key, for example, aspecific channel from the left hand control key map area 1120, isgenerated, the terminal 100 may decode a broadcast signal correspondingto a selected channel, such as channel “7”, and output a screencorresponding to the broadcast signal on the display unit 140 asillustrated in a screen 1105, such as the content showing a parachutist.

Meanwhile, when either of screens 1103 and 1107 are displayed, and whenthe user touches the area B and the area A on a screen 1103 and a screen1107, respectively, the terminal 100 may change the screen 1103 and thescreen 1107 to the screen 1107 or the screen 1103, respectively, anddisplay the respective control areas 1110, 1120. Accordingly, theterminal 100 may output a control key map according to a grip hand ofthe user while displaying a control or input area, such as keypads orblank areas for selection or data input, in an operable form by onehand. The area A and the area B of screens 1101-1107 may be defined ashaving a previously set width and distance from a right periphery and aleft periphery, respectively.

Meanwhile, the foregoing exemplary embodiment has illustrated that anadditional information output area is output instead of a change itemarea, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, theadditional information output area may receive allocation of a specificarea among input module areas and be displayed. For example, the presentinvention may be configured such that a change item area is resized, anda predetermined space to which additional information may be output isallocated to simultaneously output the additional information outputarea and the change item area on the display unit 100.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of setting a range forsupporting the one-hand operation mode according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, the terminal 100 may support a setting functioncapable of inputting a touchable range of a thumb finger by users inorder to support one-hand operation mode. To this end, the terminal 100may provide a one-hand operation mode setting item displayed on a screenof the display 140. When the user selects the one-hand operation modesetting item, the terminal 100 may provide an operation range settingitem and an operation function setting item as illustrated in a screen1201. When the operation function setting item is selected, screens asillustrated in FIG. 6 may be provided.

If the operation range setting item is selected from the screen 1201,represented by the greyed circle next to the text “OPERATION RANGESETTING” in the screen 1201, the terminal 100 may provide a screen fordefining a touchable range of a thumb finger according to a one-handgrip of the user as illustrated in a screen 1203, for example for aright hand. A similar screen which is mirror symmetrical with the screen1203, may be displayed on the display unit 140 for defining a touchingrange for a left hand. It is preferable that the user touch at twopoints of a side of the screen 1203 of the display unit 140 using athumb finger in a specific direction. For example, the user may touch aright thumb finger at a lowermost area 1206 of screen 1203 on thedisplay unit 140 and may touch an uppermost area 1207 of the displayunit 140. In addition, the user may touch a largest possible area 1208in a diagonal direction using a right thumb finger in a right periphery,with the touched areas 1206, 1207, and 1208 represented by the greyedcircles in the screen 1203.

The terminal 100 allows a user to calculate or determine a touchablerange by a thumb finger using the foregoing bottom end area 1206, topend area 1207, and largest possible area 1208, and may define the sizeand an output location of a right hand key map area, as shown in thescreen 1204 according to a touchable range by a right thumb finger, withthe square grid representing an array of actuatable screen regionsdefining the right hand key map area. Similarly, the terminal 100 maydefine the size and an output location of a left hand key map areaaccording to a left thumb finger in the same manner or may define thesize and the output location of a left hand key map area by symmetrizinga right hand key map area. The size and the location of the key map areaare applicable to respective key maps to support various user functionsaccording to a defined length of a thumb finger.

As described above, the terminal 100 and the method supporting one-handoperation mode output a key map area having a size and a locationoperable by one hand so that the user may operate the terminal 100 byone hand, and may simply change a location of the key map area accordingto the change in the hand and the appropriate touch on the screen tochange the location of the key map area. The present invention mayoperate the terminal 100 by one hand in an operation and an environmentof various user functions by defining the size and the location of a keymap for one-hand operation in a landscape mode and in a portrait mode.The present invention may have the size and the location of a key mapoptimized in a thumb finger by users.

Meanwhile, the foregoing exemplary embodiment has illustrated that anarea of a virtual key map is output to one of a right hand area and aleft hand area for one hand operation of the terminal 100, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto. That is, the terminal 100 ofthe present invention may simultaneously output a right hand key maparea which can be touched by a right thumb finger and a left hand keymap area which can be touched by a left thumb finger on the display unit140. In this case, as described above, the output right hand key maparea and left hand key map area may be areas in which all keys arearranged within a touchable range determined according to a length ofthe thumb finger of the user. Such a function may be practical in thecase where a user grips the terminal 100 by both hands due to stabilityin a trend where a screen of the display unit 140 of a portable terminal100 is gradually changed to a large screen. That is, according to theprior art, when the user grips a large screen by both hands, although akey map is output through a full screen or a part of a screen, the keymap is displayed in a central portion of the screen, which a thumbfinger of the user usually cannot reach. Accordingly, in the prior art,the user grips one side of the terminal by one hand and grips anopposite side of the terminal by a finger of other hand except for athumb finger to select a specific key output on a screen, but theterminal may inevitably be in an unstable grip state. The presentinvention allows a user to easily operate a key map using a thumb fingerwhile solving the foregoing problem, and may easily support maintenanceand use of the terminal 100.

The foregoing terminal 100 may further include various additionalmodules and components known in the art according to any known andneeded functionality. That is, when the terminal 100 of the presentinvention is a communication terminal, the terminal 100 may includeconstructions and components that are not mentioned herein such as anear distance communication module for near distance communication, aninterface exchanging data in a wired communication configuration or awireless communication configuration of the terminal 100, an Internetcommunication module communicating with an Internet to perform anInternet function, and a digital broadcasting module receiving andbroadcasting digital data and content. Since the structural elements canbe variously changed according to the convergence trend of digitaldevices, no exhaustive list of known components, modules, and elementscan be practically provided, but which can be included in the presentinvention. However, the terminal 100 may include structural elementsequivalent to the foregoing structural elements. Further, the terminal100 of the present invention may be substituted by specificconstructions in the foregoing arrangements according to any known ordesired functionality and construction. Specific elements in theforegoing arrangements of terminal 100 of the present invention may beomitted or substituted by other elements according to the desiredfunctionality and construction to implement at least the features andfunctions of the present invention, as well as any additional ornecessary features and functions. This can be easily understood to thoseskilled in the present art.

For example, the terminal 100 according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention includes various information communication devicesand multi-media devices such as a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), adigital broadcasting player, a music player, Personal Digital Assistant(PDA), a music player (e.g., MP3 player), a portable game terminal, asmart phone, a notebook PC, and a handheld PC as well as mobilecommunication terminals operating based on respective communicationprotocols corresponding to various communication systems, andapplication devices thereof.

As is seen from the forgoing description, using the method of operatingan input area which is output on a display unit and a terminalsupporting the same according the present invention, the presentinvention maximizes operation performance of the terminal based on aone-hand grip of the user so that usability of the terminal is improvedand the terminal can be easily operated.

The above-described apparatus and methods according to the presentinvention can be implemented in hardware or firmware, or as software orcomputer code, or combinations thereof. In addition, the software orcomputer code can also be stored in a non-transitory recording mediumsuch as a CD ROM, a RAM, a ROM whether erasable or rewritable or not, afloppy disk, CDs, DVDs, memory chips, a hard disk, a magnetic storagemedia, an optical recording media, or a magneto-optical disk or computercode downloaded over a network originally stored on a remote recordingmedium, a computer readable recording medium, or a non-transitorymachine readable medium and to be stored on a local recording medium, sothat the methods described herein can be rendered in such software,computer code, software modules, software objects, instructions,applications, applets, apps, etc. that is stored on the recording mediumusing a general purpose computer, a digital computer, or a specialprocessor or in programmable or dedicated hardware, such as an ASIC orFPGA. As would be understood in the art, the computer, the processor,microprocessor controller or the programmable hardware include volatileand/or non-volatile storage and memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM,Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computer code thatwhen accessed and executed by the computer, processor or hardwareimplement the processing methods described herein. In addition, it wouldbe recognized that when a general purpose computer accesses code forimplementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the codetransforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose computerfor executing the processing shown herein. In addition, the program maybe electronically transferred through any medium such as communicationsignals transmitted by wire/wireless connections, and their equivalents.The programs and computer readable recording medium can also bedistributed in network-coupled computer systems so that the computerreadable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood thatmany variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts hereintaught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will stillfall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an input area which isoutput on a screen of a display unit, the method comprising: determiningwhether an one-hand operation mode is set; displaying a first inputmodule on the screen in which a key map area having keys is displayed tobe biased to a specific direction based on a center of the display unitwhen the one-hand operation mode is set; and displaying a change itemfor changing the first input module to a second module having a key mapwith keys of the same key types as the keys of the key map area andwhich is displayed to be biased to a direction other than the specificdirection.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing anarranged direction of the terminal from a horizontal mode to a verticalmode or from the vertical mode to the horizontal mode; and adjusting thefirst input module and the change item according to the changing of thearranged direction of the terminal.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe displaying of the change item comprises arranging the change itemopposite to the specific direction of the first input module.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising displaying a blank area spacedapart from a side periphery and a bottom periphery of the specificdirection biased from the first input module by a predetermined width.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing an arrangeddirection of the terminal from a horizontal mode to a vertical mode orfrom the vertical mode to the horizontal mode; and arranging the firstinput module to be biased to the specific direction by adjusting atleast one of a location and a size of the first input module accordingto the changing of the arranged direction of the terminal.
 6. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: generating a specific input signalthrough the key map area; and displaying additional informationassociated with the specific input signal on an additional informationoutput area of the first input module.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinthe displaying of the additional information comprises: displaying atleast one recommended word associated with the specific input signal;and displaying at least one phone number of phone book informationassociated with the specific input signal.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising generating a touch event at a specific location onthe screen of the display unit; wherein the displaying of the firstinput module comprises outputting the first input module in a directioncorresponding to location of the touch event.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising: generating the touch event at another location onthe screen of the display unit; removing the first input module; andoutputting a second input module in a direction biased toward the otherlocation.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the firstinput module comprises: creating the first input module by adjusting atleast one of a size and a location of an input module of a basic formsymmetrically displayed based on a center of the screen of the displayunit or in which at least one key is arranged at the center of thescreen of the display unit, and at least one of a size and a location ofthe input module of the basic form based on a predetermined touchabledistance; and displaying the first input module.
 11. The method of claim10, further comprising: receiving an input signal corresponding to aselected touchable range; and applying the touchable range to adjust atleast one of the size and the form of the first input module.
 12. Aterminal for supporting an operation of an input area which is output ona screen of a display unit, the terminal comprising: the display unitdisplaying a key map area including keys; and a controller determiningwhether a one-hand operation mode is set, and controlling the displayunit to display a first input module in which a key map area is biasedto a specific direction based on a center of the display unit, whereinthe display unit displays a change item for changing the first inputmodule to a second module having a key map with keys of the same keytypes as the keys of the key map area and which is displayed to bebiased to a direction other than the specific direction.
 13. The methodof claim 12, wherein the display unit displays the first input moduleand the change item by adjusting at least one of a location and a sizeaccording to the changing of the arranged direction of the terminal, ifan event for changing an arranged direction of the terminal from ahorizontal mode to a vertical mode or from the vertical mode to thehorizontal mode,
 14. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the display unitdisplays a blank area spaced apart from a side periphery and a bottomperiphery of the specific direction biased from the first input moduleby a predetermined width.
 15. The terminal of claim 12, wherein thecontroller arranges the first input module to be biased to the specificdirection by adjusting at least one of a location and a size of thefirst input module according to the changing of the arranged directionof the terminal when an arranged direction of the terminal is changedfrom a horizontal mode to a vertical mode or from the vertical mode tothe horizontal mode.
 16. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the displayunit displays an additional information output area including additionalinformation associated with a specific input signal when the specificinput signal is generated through the key map area.
 17. The terminal ofclaim 16, wherein the additional information output area displays atleast one of: at least one recommended word associated with the specificinput signal; and at least one phone number of phone book informationassociated with the specific input signal.
 18. The terminal of claim 12,wherein the controller controls the display unit such that the firstinput module is output in a direction of a touch event when the touchevent is generated at a specific location on the screen of the displayunit; and removes the first input module and outputs a second inputmodule in a direction biased toward another location on the screen whenthe touch event is generated at the other location on the screen of thedisplay unit.
 19. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controlleradjusts at least one of a size and a location of an input module of abasic form having a corresponding key map with keys of the same keytypes as the keys of the first input module based on a previouslydefined touchable range and symmetrically displayed based on a centralline of the display unit or in which keys are arranged at a centralportion of the screen to generate and display the first input module.20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller receives an inputsignal corresponding to a selected touchable range, and applies thetouchable range according to the received input signal to adjust atleast one of the size and the form of the first input module.